The daily positivity rate or rate of individuals that tested positive is 13.1%, based on 32,112 tests done as of May 23. The rate stayed at the 11 to 13% range which has remained since May 9 . The recommended rate is below 5% according to the World Health Organization as high rates indicate more undetected cases.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) — The country’s COVID-19 death toll exceeded 20,000 on Tuesday, after 36 more people lost their lives to the disease, the Department of Health announced.
The DOH daily case bulletin counted 20,019 deaths, which is 1.68% of the total number of cases. The case tally is now at 1,188,672 with 3,972 new infections.
Of this total, 48,201 or 4.1% are active or currently sick cases, with 92.7% experiencing mild symptoms, 2.1% without symptoms, 2.1% with severe symptoms, 1.6% in critical condition and 1.42% in moderate condition.
Meanwhile, the recovery count is 1,120,452 or 94.3% of total cases, after 4,659 more people got better.
However, the total excludes data from ten laboratories that failed to submit their reports on time, the DOH noted. These facilities have contributed an average of 3.2% of samples tested and 5.5% of positive individuals in the past 14 days, it added.
The DOH also said ten survivors were reclassified as fatalities after validation and six duplicates were deleted, including three recoveries.
The OCTA research team noted that Metro Manila is showing “good indicators” of its COVID-19 situation improving, after finding a lower positivity rate at 10%, a lower seven-day average of 1,100 daily cases and a lower reproduction number or number of people infected by a case at 0.57. Experts said these developments mean that the government can begin considering easing restrictions in the National Capital Region.
However, they also recommended further monitoring of increases in Davao City, Puerto Princesa City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, and Cagayan de Oro City.
IATF-Visayas chief implementer Melquiades Feliciano, on the other hand, said they are closely monitoring Guimaras, Aklan, Iloilo Province, and Iloilo City. He noted that Guimaras and Iloilo City are under high-risk classification while Aklan and Iloilo Province are in moderate risk.
Among Filipinos abroad, authorities recorded a surge of new cases reaching 143 and an increase of recoveries at 130. The Department of Foreign Affairs explained that the jump in infections and recoveries was due to an “updated report” from a country in Europe. Meanwhile, the death toll remained at 1,168 while 6,112 people are undergoing treatment.
Feliciano explained that the community transmission of the virus and health protocol violations can be reasons for the surge in cases in the said provinces.
“But basically sa ganitong mga cases, pagka bigla yung laki, it’s more on the community transmission already,” he told CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Ngayon. “Nandiyan na yung cases, so especially kung yung mga tao, hindi sila observant sa mga minimum health protocols, kagaya nung mga gathering, minsan nagpa-party, nag-iinuman.”
[Translation: In these cases, when there is a surge, it’s more a community transmission already. There will be cases when people are not observing minimum health protocols, such as mass gatherings, parties, and drinking parties.]
